Matadors Come From Behind to Defeat SDSU 12-9

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -
At the end of a back-and-forth battle where the runs came early and often, the Cal State Northridge Matadors (8-5) were the victors over the San Diego State Aztecs (2-10) by the score of 12-9 at Matador Field.

Centerfielder Andrew Muren blasted a grand slam to right field in the seventh inning to give the Matadors the lead for good.

Northridge got on the scoreboard early when catcher Steven Keller doubled in the bottom of the first to score Ridge Carpenter from second. The Aztecs quickly took the lead with two runs of their own in the top of the second inning.

In the bottom of inning number two, Northridge regained the lead at 3-2 after Tommy Simis hit an RBI single and TS Reed reached first on an error with the bases loaded. Yet again, San Diego State regrouped, this time scoring three times in the third to go back ahead 5-3.

The Aztecs held their largest lead of the game in the sixth inning at 7-3 before back-to-back doubles from Carpenter and Muren trimmed the lead to three. The next inning, however, opened things up offensively for the Matadors and put them in the lead for good.

Trailing 8-4, designated hitter Marty Bowen led off the bottom of the seventh with a single. Adam Barry (3-for-3) followed suit with a single of his own before Christian Allen doubled to left field to score Bowen. A new pitcher was brought in, and Simis brought in his second RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly for the first out.

Both Reed and Carpenter walked with two outs in the inning to bring up Muren, who crushed a ball to right field for a grand slam, his first homerun of the season, to put Northridge ahead 10-8.

The Matadors would get two more insurance runs following a two-run homerun by Allen in the eighth, his second of the year.

Joshua Goossen-Brown pitched two innings in relief to earn his first win at CSUN, and senior Ryan Juarez pitched the eighth and ninth innings to earn his second save of the season.

The Matadors return to action this Friday when they begin a four-game series with Lafayette. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Matador Field.